Water heater industry presents diversified development

Under the stimulation of policies that have continued for many years, the water heater market has gradually undergone more profound internal changes. The "Home Appliances" that have been withdrawn from the "stage" for more than a year has been affecting the follow-up market. After four years of policy stimulation of the rural water heater market, the energy of solar water heaters was almost drained. In 2013, the serious overdraft solar water heater market entered an unprecedented trough, and it also became the only category in many categories of water heaters that experienced a significant decline in market size.

The low point of the solar water heater retail market stimulated the new changes in the water heater industry. Sunrise's two major brands - Four Seasons Mu Ge and Sun Rain, began to fully enter the heat pump water heater market, Li Norit also began a major transformation, adding heat pump water heater battle group. Even if the heat pump water heater industry is approved by the energy saving subsidy, there is no significant increase in the industry's expectations, but there are many problems. However, because of the popularity of energy-saving products Huimin project, heat pump water heaters are still considered by the industry to have bright prospects, traditional water heater companies represented by AO Smith are also influx, but this market can really exceed billions within a few years Yuan?

At least in 2013, the industry's expectations for the highly-regarded solar water heaters and heat pump water heaters were basically frustrated. Multiple research shows that the market size of solar water heaters has fallen by more than 20% year-on-year, and the overall size of heat pump water heaters has only grown by 10%, far below the expectations of all parties.

Judging from the current situation, we still cannot judge whether the one-year energy-saving product Huimin project has overdrawn the future demand for energy-saving water heaters. But only in the past year, it did inspire the development of the gas water heater industry. According to statistics from China Yikang, under the guidance of energy-saving products and benefits projects, the year-on-year increase in retail sales of water heaters increased from -25.5% in January 2012 to 37.3% in May 2013. Among them, the product structure of gas water heaters is further optimized. As of May 2013, the retail sales of energy-saving products for gas water heaters have reached 19.5%. Gas water heater companies in an interview with "Electrical" reporters have said that in the energy-saving products Huimin project incentives, the pace of enterprise transformation and upgrading really accelerated.

It is worth noting that there is no policy affecting the electric water heater industry. According to the statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to August 2013, the accumulated water storage electric water heaters achieved a total output of 21,416,800 units, an increase of 14.61% year-on-year; according to statistics of China Yikang, from January to July 2013, the storage type The market for electric water heaters was 9.23 million units, and retail sales were 13.5 billion yuan, up by 11.0% and 16.8% year-on-year respectively. Electric water heaters that have lost their policy recognition can maintain this growth rate and can only prove that other categories of water heaters have industrial bottlenecks that are difficult to solve, leading to “irreplaceable” for electric water heaters.

After the policy exit, the market of water heaters has become more and more rapid and rapid. Many water heater companies that once produced single-category products have started production of new-type water heaters. In the exhibition halls and events of major companies, we see more of the "Integrated Home Hot Water Solutions" display, even the long-term vision. Water heater companies that do not have to rush for various stimulus policies have already begun to embody the strategic thinking of relying on technological innovations to achieve transformation and upgrading. “Remote control,” “mobile terminal monitoring,” and “multi-category intelligent interconnection,” have once been fascinating. The new application technology has come to the eyes of consumers.

In the age of big data, regardless of the product or marketing channels, the water heater industry will undergo profound changes, with less stimulus from policies, and the market will develop freely. The reform of the water heater industry has just begun.